From the Sector

For arts organizers throughout the province, we know this is an unusual and unexpected time. The arts, culture and heritage sectors contribute billions to the province’s economy, but are often the first hit when a crisis emerges. For Ontario Culture Days, we have always believed one of our strengths is our province-wide, cross-sector network of organisers, all of whom believe in the value of sharing and celebrating arts and culture with their region. Now more than ever, we want to use the collective brain power of our Culture Days community to pull together and weather this storm.

There are many resources emerging for artists and arts organizers available to use, adapt and make our own. This page will be a hub for the resources, and a landing page for the arts community to learn about the tools available.

We’ll regularly update the page with new content that we feel best supports our own unique sector in Ontario. If you are currently working on resources, or discover something that could be used by the network, please submit a listing here.

Jump to:
Webinars, talks and live events
Communications and marketing
Programming
Organizational Managment
Financial Support

Webinars, talks and live events

Communications and marketing

• International Council of Museums has provided an article on How to reach - and engage - your public remotely
• Digital Marketing Recommendations for our arts community during COVID19
• Podcast on the need for arts organizations to transition to being a media company (especially now!) -How Museums Can Experiment with Social Media to Boost Audience Engagement During Coronavirus

Programming

• Sundance Collab is a resource for filmmakers around the world. They are currently providing their educational tools for free to artists.
• Communique - Changing a physical event to a virtual event
• CBC Arts provides a good list of covid-related art challenges and their respective hashtags. It’s a great way for institutions to post their own content and join the conversation
• Ghost Light is a network, resource and ‘digital training ground’ for performing artists
• Best practices for setting up a Digital Event
• The CBC has released some helpful tips on how to host you own concert from your living room
• National Canadian Film Day has provide some great tips on how to plan a online watch party.

Organizational Managment

• LEAN (Leadership Emergency Arts Network) consulting.
• Ontario Arts Council Guidelines for Grant Applicants and Recipients
• Ontario Presents is providing conference calling services for free
• COVIDContinuity is a site with links and solutions for small and non-profit businesses
• How to Transition into a Virtual Workplace
• Tips specifically for non-profit workers on working from home
• Nonprofits can apply for digital software and hardware (ex Microsoft Office, Zoom, Adobe Creative Suites, ect.) discounts through TechSoup Canada.
• The Ontario Association of Art Galleries has created a platform to share resources and continue the discussion around Covid-19.

Financial Support

• I Lost My Gig is a new support and advocacy platform for artists and arts workers who have lost contract work as a result of covid-19.
• Toronto Arts Council has provided a list of links from various Ontario arts funding bodies
• ArtScape has developed a diverse collection economic support initiatives, assisting arts and culture workers with funding and providing housing and food security.
• CBC has a regularly updated list of resources for Canadaian artists.

To receive Ontario-specific updates, sign up for the Ontario Culture Days newsletter here.
To join the conversation in our Ontario Organizer Network Facebook page, click here